Presidency Rebukes Catholic Bishops Over Onaiyekan’s Disclosure of Tinubu Meeting

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Presidency has criticised the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) following comments by the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, over the outcome of the bishops’ recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Presidential aides described the cardinal’s public disclosure of discussions held behind closed doors as inappropriate, insisting that confidential engagements with the President should not be subjected to public commentary.

The controversy stemmed from an interview granted by Cardinal Onaiyekan on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme, during which he revealed details of the July 28 meeting between President Tinubu and a delegation of the Catholic Bishops at the Presidential Villa. According to the cardinal, the bishops presented a carefully prepared position paper expressing deep concern over worsening economic hardship, insecurity and the state of Nigeria’s democracy. He disclosed that President Tinubu openly rejected the bishops’ assessment, insisting that his administration was making measurable progress in addressing the nation’s challenges.

Onaiyekan stressed that the submission presented to the President represented the collective position of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference after extensive consultations and rigorous deliberations, rather than the personal opinion of those present. He maintained that the bishops had no political ambitions or personal interests to protect but were fulfilling their moral and spiritual obligation to speak truthfully about the suffering of Nigerians.

“We are not politicians seeking anybody’s office,” the cardinal said. “Our responsibility is not only to preach the Gospel but also to speak to the realities confronting our people. We deliberately presented the true situation in the country rather than offering a flattering picture.”

The former Archbishop further disclosed that the bishops informed the President that current economic policies were worsening the plight of ordinary Nigerians. However, Tinubu reportedly disagreed with their position, insisting that the economy was gradually recovering under his administration. Onaiyekan admitted that the bishops never expected the President to agree with their observations but believed they had discharged their responsibility by presenting what they considered an honest assessment of the nation’s condition.

Reflecting on the President’s reaction during the meeting, the cardinal observed that Tinubu appeared visibly unhappy with the bishops’ presentation. According to him, many individuals surrounding the President continually present an overly optimistic view of national affairs, making it imperative for the bishops to provide what they regarded as an accurate reflection of the realities facing Nigerians.

Presidency Fires Back

The Presidency responded swiftly, dismissing the bishops’ assessment as only one perspective among many. In separate statements, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, and Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, defended President Tinubu’s response and faulted Cardinal Onaiyekan for discussing the private meeting publicly.

Ajayi argued that while the bishops were entitled to their opinions, their assessment was neither infallible nor beyond challenge. He noted that the delegation had requested the audience with the President, freely presented its concerns, and received a detailed response backed by what he described as verifiable facts.

According to Ajayi, the bishops acknowledged only the success of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) while overlooking several other achievements recorded by the Tinubu administration. He maintained that although Nigerians continued to face economic hardship, there had been notable improvements, including more regular payment of salaries and pensions across many states, increased fiscal stability and signs of economic recovery.

The presidential aide rejected the bishops’ description of Nigeria as a nation “bleeding,” insisting that President Tinubu was fully aware of the country’s challenges through daily intelligence briefings, security reports, consultations with stakeholders and constant monitoring of local and international developments.

“The President never claimed Nigeria’s problems had disappeared,” Ajayi stated. “His position is that the country has emerged from a difficult period, significant reforms have been initiated, and the next phase is ensuring that ordinary Nigerians begin to experience the benefits.”

Ajayi also dismissed suggestions that only the Catholic Bishops possessed an accurate understanding of the country’s situation, stressing that the President remained well informed through multiple independent sources.

“The bishops are an important national constituency,” he said, “but they are by no means the exclusive custodians of the nation’s conscience or the only voices capable of interpreting the mood of Nigerians.”

Bwala Accuses Cardinal of Political Bias

Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, took a more confrontational stance, alleging that Cardinal Onaiyekan’s comments were influenced by politics rather than spirituality. He argued that the Catholic Church openly supported Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi during the 2023 general election, suggesting that the cardinal’s criticism of the Tinubu administration should be viewed within that political context.

Bwala maintained that President Tinubu was justified in rejecting the bishops’ assessment because his position was supported by economic data, official statistics and measurable indicators. He further accused the cardinal of applying double standards, claiming that many religious leaders encouraged their followers to profess faith and hope despite difficult circumstances while criticising the government’s optimistic outlook on the economy.

According to Bwala, the Christian community in Nigeria extends beyond the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, noting that several other Christian organisations have maintained politically neutral positions.

Kukah Declines Comment

One of the bishops who attended the meeting, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, declined to comment further on the controversy. Speaking briefly, Kukah said he could not take an independent position on a meeting he attended as part of an official delegation.

Opposition Faults Tinubu

Meanwhile, the Lagos Central Senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Ladipo Johnson, criticised President Tinubu’s reported suggestion that Nigerians facing hardship should seek assistance from churches.

In a statement, Johnson described the President’s remarks as “a shocking low point in presidential communication,” accusing the administration of abdicating its constitutional responsibility to provide practical solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges. He argued that the response reflected a disturbing lack of empathy for millions of Nigerians grappling with soaring food prices, persistent inflation and declining purchasing power.

The exchange has once again highlighted the growing debate over the true state of Nigeria’s economy, with the Presidency insisting that reforms are beginning to yield results, while religious leaders and opposition figures continue to argue that many Nigerians have yet to feel the promised dividends of government policies.

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